The Jets-Colts Super Bowl - a tangent

Just preparing tomorrow's geezers, Dick.

 

Lombardi pushed his players to run faster 40s at combines? I think not. It's what's emphasized in the era. A modern Hornung would have run a much better 40 than he ever ran in his real life by the end of high school. Remember, that was an era where Joe Don Looney was considered "weird" because he'd leave Oklahoma to go, on his own, to lift weights in Louisiana in the off-season (wasn't he going to become too muscle-bound to be a running back?). Looney understood that the explosiveness you need for short bursts comes, in part, from pure strength and muscularity.

We aren't talking about a magic-pill quick fix here. We're talking about a lifetime of a different approach to physical development.

But I'm with you in that not all players transcend eras. There were a lot of 6-footish offensive linemen in those days. Those guys are gone not because kids are taller these days, but the rules changed in the early late 70s/early 80s where players could reach out with open palms. That drastically increased the value of length in linemen. Now all the vast majority are 6-5 and above. Now, take away the extended arms and would modern lines look the same? Probably not. If some of these 6-7 behemoths of today had to keep their hands in and block like they blocked in 1975, they wouldn't move their feet well enough to do it. Jerry Kramer probably couldn't play today at 6-3 but if today's offensive guards had to compete with him under 1967 rules, he'd be the best one of the best guards in the NFL.

 

If the Jets lose that game is Namath a Hall of Famer?

 

No.

 

I say no

 

Doubtful. The average margin of improvement of NBA players has diminished with each succeeding decade. Compare games from 1970 to 1960 and the difference is INCREDIBLE--hard to believe only 10 years passed, but 80 to 70 saw a less dramatic change, 90 to 80 less than that, etc.

People forget how young basketball was in the 60s. Few had played it. Except for a few hotspot areas like Indiana and NYC, the game lagged FAR behind baseball and football (and hockey in many areas) and was largely viewed as a secondary sport, and the rest of the world mostly ignored the sport. On top of that, even basic questions about HOW to play the game (hmm, a set shot or a jump shot?) hadn't been fully resolved yet.

Now it's wildly popular all over the world, elaborate youth league systems are set up all over the world, the NBA now represents the best players from a population pool of billions all over the world, used to be drawing from an immeasurably smaller pool. The game has grown up and filled out. Doesn't have as much room for further expansion.

Players will continue to get bigger, stronger and better over time, but it won't be by the same dramatic leaps and bounds of decades past. Lebron and Kobe will resemble 2052's players much more than 1962's resemble today's.

 

Unquestionably NO. That game IS his HOF resume. There's nothing else to even make him a candidate.

 

Dr Naismith wants a word with you. You must be getting your basketball history from Bill Simmons.

 

About the last source I'd ever rely on is Bill Simmons. Naismith died in the 1930s, not having the first clue what his little gym class creation would grow into.

 

This is assuming no major change in the rules.

 

Isn't just rules changes, you forget you are dealing with some of the biggest egos on the planet. And they will cheat and break rules to stay on top. Barry Bonds is a perfect example. He was probably already a Hall of Famer before his head (literally) swelled and he started using performance enhancers to get what he felt was his record.

An entire era of baseball is in question not because of the rules, but those who tried to get around them.

Oh, but I forget Bonds only used flaxseed oil, right?

 

That's my opinion too.

The fact the guy made it based on one game makes you wonder about the thought process of the electors.

Better question would be, if he played for a team like the Chiefs and THEY beat the Colts in Super Bowl III, would he be in the Hall of Fame with his career numbers? Would winning that one game mean as much if he hadn't played in New York?